Benefits of the Fear of the Lord
Fear of the Lord series part 4
Exodus 1
8 Then a new king came to the throne of Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done. 9 He told his people, "These Israelites are becoming a threat to us because there are so many of them. 10 We must find a way to put an end to this. If we don’t and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies and fight against us. Then they will escape from the country." 11 So the Egyptians made the Israelites their slaves and put brutal slave drivers over them, hoping to wear them down under heavy burdens. They forced them to build the cities of Pithom and Rameses as supply centers for the king. 12 But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more quickly the Israelites multiplied! The Egyptians soon became alarmed 13 and decided to make their slavery more bitter still. 14 They were ruthless with the Israelites, forcing them to make bricks and mortar and to work long hours in the fields.
15 Then Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gave this order to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah: 16 "When you help the Hebrew women give birth, kill all the boys as soon as they are born. Allow only the baby girls to live." 17 But because the midwives feared God, they refused to obey the king and allowed the boys to live, too. 18 Then the king called for the midwives. "Why have you done this?" he demanded. "Why have you allowed the boys to live?" 19 "Sir," they told him, "the Hebrew women are very strong. They have their babies so quickly that we cannot get there in time! They are not slow in giving birth like Egyptian women." 20 So God blessed the midwives, and the Israelites continued to multiply, growing more and more powerful. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.
The truths presented in this series are all seen here in this text.
Sermon 1-NO FEAR - Fear of God was lacking so they killed babies
Sermon 2 - Who do you fear most?- Feared God more than the King ( The fear of man)
Sermon 3 The Proof - Feared God so they obeyed him- -obedience proof of Fear of the Lord
Sermon 4 -The Benefits of Fearing the Lord. -There are blessing to those who fear the Lord.
MAIN IDEA: Fearing the Lord is not just good for us after we die – it is for our good in the here and now.
Purpose: To give the hearers reasons to live in the Fear of the Lord here and now. The Promises from the Word of God do just that.
INTRO:
“What’s in it for me?” Ever asked that question? When the telemarketer calls that question is one of the first that comes to my mind. I’m not going to buy it (whatever it is) if I don’t think the payoff is worth the price – or even better that I’m getting the better part of the deal.
Up to this point in this series on Understanding the Fear of the Lord, we’ve been looking at what God requires of us. It’s been some strong medicine. This truth is stated in Deut 5:29 (Deut. 5:29 Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!) in which we learn that fearing the Lord is for our good – we haven’t really talked in specific terms about what that good is. That’s what we’re going to do today. When it comes to fearing the Lord (even though we should do it “just because He says to”) there are some major benefits that come into our lives. If you ask, “What’s in it for me?” the answer is “more than you’ll ever have to give up to get it!”
(Intro From Don Jaques sermon)
Let’s examine some of the promises from God Word
1. Answered Prayer Hebrews 5:7
who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,
He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. Ps. 145:19
2. Assurance of God’s Goodness and Mercy Psalms 31:19
Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men!
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him. Psalms 103:11
The next time you feel like God can’t use you, just remember...
Noah was a drunk.
Abraham was too old.
Isaac was a daydreamer.
Jacob was a liar.
Leah was ugly.
Joseph was abused.
Moses had a stuttering problem.
Gideon was afraid.
Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer.
Rahab was a prostitute.
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young.
David had an affair and was a murderer.
Elijah was suicidal.
Isaiah preached naked.
Jonah ran from God.
Naomi was a widow.
Job went bankrupt.
John the Baptist ate locusts.
Peter denied Christ.
The Disciples fell asleep while praying.
Martha worried about everything.
Mary Magdalene was, well you know.
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once.
Zaccheus was too small.
Paul was too religious.
Timothy had an ulcer...
Lazarus was dead!
3. Angelic Protection Psalms 34:7
The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
Angel Warriors
John Paton was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. One night hostile natives surrounded the mission station, intent on burning out the Patons and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came they were amazed to see their attackers leave.
A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton asked the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, “Who were all those men with you there?” Paton knew no men were present--but the chief said he was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling the mission station.
Today in the Word, MBI, October, 1991, p. 18
4. Attention of God Psalms 33:18
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy,
5. Abundant Provision Psalms Psalms 34:9
Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.
He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His Covenant. Ps 111:5
6. Wisdom for Living Prov. 9:10-11
Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding. Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.
7. A Confidence in the face of difficulty Prov. 14:26-27
In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge.
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.
8. A Satisfaction of Soul Prov 19:23
The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil.
A rock song popular when I grew up was “I can’t get no satisfaction” , and they Never will in Sex, drugs and rock and roll.
9. Avoid Backslidding Jeremiah 32:40
And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.
10. Happiness Psalms 128:1-4
1 A song for the ascent to Jerusalem. How happy are those who fear the LORD – all who follow his ways! 2 You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How happy you will be! How rich your life! 3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine, flourishing within your home. And look at all those children! There they sit around your table as vigorous and healthy as young olive trees. 4 That is the LORD’s reward for those who fear him.
One man thought happiness came from being the boss at home.
A mild-mannered man was reading a book on being self-assertive and decided to start at home. So he stormed into his house, pointed a finger in his wife’s face, and said, "From now on I’m boss around here and my word is law! I want you to prepare me a gourmet meal and draw my bath. Then, when I’ve eaten and finished my bath, guess who’s going to dress me and comb my hair." "The mortician," replied his wife. He thought happiness came from being boss and being pampered.
Are Most People Happy?
Are most people happy? Dennis Wholey, author of Are You Happy" reports that according to expert opinion, perhaps only 20 percent of Americans are happy.
Those experts would probably agree with the wry definition of happiness offered by psychiatrist Thomas Szasz, who said, “Happiness is an imaginary condition, formerly attributed by the living to the dead, now usually attributed by adults to children and by children to adults.”
Our Daily Bread, October 11, 1994
Elvis Presley
Six weeks before he died, a reporter asked Elvis Presley, “Elvis, when you first started playing music, you said you wanted to be rich, famous and happy. Are you happy?” “I’m lonely as hell,” he replied.
Source unknown
Conclusion: Gather around the altar and cry out to God for the fear of the Lord in our lives, so that we may experience the benefits.
